Immigration Reform and DREAM Advocates Rally at Senator Wyden's office

Today CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition was joined by students from local colleges and universities for a march and rally at the district office of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden in Downtown Portland.

The purpose of the action was part of a nationwide effort to pressure Congress to finally fix our broken immigration system with passage of The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2009 and Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

During today’s march and rally, immigration reform advocates called on Senator Wyden to support the DREAM Act of 2009 and asked him to encourage Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) to introduce similar legislation to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR-ASAP)(HR4321), a bill that was introduced last month in the U.S. House of Representatives.

While marching, Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz made a surprise appearance to give words of support for the DREAM Act and Comprehensive Immigration Reform. In October, Portland City Commissioners Nick Fish and Amanda Fritz introduced a resolution calling on their fellow colleagues to support the federal DREAM Act. Resolution 1434 passed unanimously.

Here are some photos from today’s event:

Next week, DREAM Act and Immigration Reform Advocates will meet at the office of U.S. Congressman Kurt Schrader to call on the 5th District Representative to support the DREAM Act of 2009 and to join on as a co-sponsor of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP) (HR 4321).

Related Post:
Immigrant Rights Advocates to urge Senator Wyden to Support the DREAM Act and Immigration Reform

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Immigrant Rights Advocates to urge Senator Wyden to Support the DREAM Act and Immigration Reform

Media Advisory
January 20, 2010

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director, 503.269.5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director, 503.488.0263

Immigrant Rights Advocates to urge Senator Wyden to Support the DREAM Act and Immigration Reform

Salem, Ore--This Friday, CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition and students from local colleges and universities will meet for a march and rally at the district office of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden in Portland. The action is part of a nationwide effort to pressure Congress to finally fix our broken immigration system with passage of The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2009 and Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

During the march and rally at Senator Wyden's office, we will call on the Senator to support the DREAM Act of 2009 and ask him to encourage Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) to introduce similar legislation to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR-ASAP)(HR4321) that was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last month.

WHAT: March and Rally for the DREAM Act and Comprehensive Immigration Reform

WHEN: Friday, January 22nd at 12:00 noon

WHERE: Office of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, 1220 Southwest 3rd Street, Portland, OR 97204 (Directions)

WHO: CAUSA, Oregon Immigrant Rights Coalition and students from Metro Area Colleges and Universities

What is the DREAM Act?

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act is bipartisan legislation that addresses the situation faced by young people who were brought to the United States years ago as undocumented immigrant children, and who have since grown up here, stayed in school, and kept out of trouble.

Why is the DREAM Act needed?

Each year about 65,000 U.S.-raised students who would qualify for the DREAM Act's benefits graduate from high school. These include honor roll students, star athletes, talented artists, homecoming queens, and aspiring teachers, doctors, and U.S. soldiers. They are young people who have lived in the U.S. for most of their lives and desire only to call this country their home. Even though they were brought to the U.S. years ago as children, they face unique barriers to higher education, are unable to work legally in the U.S., and often live in constant fear of detection by immigration authorities. Our immigration law currently has no mechanism to consider the special equities and circumstances of such students. The DREAM Act would eliminate this flaw. It is un-American to indefinitely and irremediably punish them for decisions made by adults many years ago. By enacting the DREAM Act, Congress would legally recognize what is de facto true: these young people belong here.

We need Comprehensive Immigration Reform NOW! Reform is long overdue, and Congress must take immediate action to fix our broken immigration system with reform that works for the economy, taxpayers and families. One that:

• Creates millions of new taxpayers by requiring undocumented immigrants to register, go through background checks, pay taxes, and study English on their way to becoming full U.S. citizens
• Protects workers and helps with economic recovery
• Keeps families together
• Protects the due process rights of all

For more information on the campaign and upcoming actions, please contact Francisco Lopez at 503.269.5694 or visit http://www.causaoregon.org/



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CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, is a member of the Reform Immigration FOR America coalition and is the largest Latino and Latina civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information, visit www.causaoregon.org.

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN: The Reform Immigration FOR America campaign is a coalition of more than 600 faith, labor, business, progressive, and immigration reform groups that have joined together to get comprehensive immigration reform passed. For more information please visit www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org or www.reformamigratoriaproamerica.org

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Supporters March and Rally for Immigration Reform in Portland

NEWS RELEASE
January 13, 2010

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director, 503.269.5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director, 503.488.0263

Supporters March and Rally for Immigration Reform in Portland

Portland, Ore--Today, Immigration Reform Advocates and members of CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, met for a March and Rally at the district offices of Congressman Wu and Senator Merkley in Portland.

The purpose of the action was to call on Congressman Wu to support Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (HR 4321) and to call on Senator Merkley to urge New York Senator Charles Schumer to introduce similar legislation in the United States Senate. Reform advocates from Portland State University were also present and called on Oregon's Representatives to support the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act.

Those attending the rally and march came from a variety of backgrounds including students, children of immigrant parents, and concerned citizens. The supporters of HR4321 began their rally at Congressman Wu's office where they spoke about their personal stories and the need for reform now. A small group including several students and CAUSA's Executive Director Francisco Lopez delivered a copy of HR4321 up to Congressman Wu's office. The Congressman will announce his decision on whether or not he will support the legislation this Friday.

Shortly after delivering their request to Congressman Wu, immigration reform supporters marched to Senator Merkley's office. There, they were met by Mary Beth Healy, Deputy State Director for Senator Merkley's office. She told the group that the Senator has always been supportive of comprehensive immigration reform and would take their request under serious consideration.

Currently, Congressman Earl Blumenauer is the only U.S. Representative from Oregon that has co-signed on to HR4321. Last week, supporters of Immigration Reform delivered a message of thanks to the Congressman during a press conference and rally outside his office. While there, he came out and spoke briefly reiterating his support for the legislation, the need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform and the work needed to achieve it this year.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR-ASAP) (HR 4321) is the first piece of legislation introduced in Congress since 2007. Introduced on December 15th by Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez with over 92 co-sponsors from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Black Caucus, Asian Pacific American Caucus, and Progressive Caucus, the bill will:

Create millions of new taxpayers by requiring undocumented immigrants to register, go through background checks, pay taxes, and study English on their way to becoming full U.S. citizens

Protect workers and help with economic recovery

Keep families together

Protect the due process rights of all

CAUSA, their members and students from Portland State University will visit Senator Wyden's office next week on Friday (January 22nd) at noon. They will call on Oregon's Senior Senator to urge Senator Schumer to introduce legislation that mirrors the house bill and call for passage of the DREAM Act. For more information on the campaign and upcoming actions, please contact Francisco Lopez at 503.269.5694 or visit www.causaoregon.org

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CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, is a member of the Reform Immigration FOR America coalition and is the largest Latino and Latina civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information, visit www.causaoregon.org.

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN: The Reform Immigration FOR America campaign is a coalition of more than 600 faith, labor, business, progressive, and immigration reform groups that have joined together to get comprehensive immigration reform passed. For more information please visit www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org or www.reformamigratoriaproamerica.org

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Photo: Calling on Congressman Wu to support CIR-ASAP

Calling on Congressman David Wu (D-OR) to support the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (HR 4321) at a March and Rally for CIR-ASAP today in Portland.

Get more photos and news from today's March and Rally at www.twitter.com/causaoregon

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Oregon Coalition to call on Congressman Wu and Senator Merkley to take action on Immigration Reform

MEDIA ADVISORY
January 9, 2010

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director, 503.269.5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director, 503.488.0263

March and Rally for CIR-ASAP at the Offices of US Congressman David Wu and US Senator Jeff Merkley

Immigrant Rights Coalition to call on Congressman Wu and Senator Merkley to take action on Immigration Reform
Salem, Ore--Members of CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, will gather on Wednesday, January 13th at the district office of US Congressman David Wu and march to the district office of Senator Jeff Merkley to participate in a national mobilization to pressure Congress to finally fix the broken immigration system with comprehensive immigration reform.

During our march and rally at the district offices, we will ask Congressman Wu to join on as a co-sponsor of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP) (HR 4321) and Senator Merkley to encourage Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) to introduce a similar bill in the Senate.

WHAT: March and Rally for CIR-ASAP

WHEN: Wednesday, January 13th at 11:00 a.m. (Congressman Wu) and 12:30 p.m. (Senator Merkley)

WHERE: The March will start at the Office of US Congressman David Wu, 620 SW Main, Suite 606 Portland, OR 97205 and will end at the Office of US Senator Jeff Merkley 121 Southwest Salmon Street, Portland, OR 97204

WHO: CAUSA, Oregon Immigrant Rights Coalition

We Need Comprehensive Immigration Reform NOW. Reform is long overdue, and Congress must take immediate action to fix our broken immigration system. CAUSA and the Reform Immigration FOR America campaign are mobilizing Oregonians and Americans alike across the nation for an immigration reform that works for the economy, taxpayers and families. One that:

Creates millions of new taxpayers by requiring undocumented immigrants to register, go through background checks, pay taxes, and study English on their way to becoming full U.S. citizens

Protects workers and helps with economic recovery

Keeps families together

Protects the due process rights of all

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CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, is a member of the Reform Immigration FOR America coalition and is the largest Latino and Latina civil and human rights and advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest. We work to defend and advance immigrant rights through coordination with local, state, and national coalitions and allies. For more information, visit www.causaoregon.org.

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN: The Reform Immigration FOR America campaign is a coalition of more than 600 faith, labor, business, progressive, and immigration reform groups that have joined together to get comprehensive immigration reform passed. For more information please visit www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org or www.reformamigratoriaproamerica.org

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VIDEO: Campaign Kick-off for Immigration Reform Bill HR 4321
Congressman Blumenauer speaks at CIR-ASAP Press Conference in Portland
New Study reveals the economic benefits of Immigration Reform
Oregon News Service: Oregon's Immigration Reform Groups "Go Visiting"
Oregon Coalition to Kick-off Campaign for Socially Responsible Immigration Bill on Thursday

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Reform Immigration FOR America at Oregon Town Halls

In communities across Oregon, CAUSA and our allies mobilized immigrant rights supporters to attend Congressional Town Halls to urge support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

Watch our latest video highlighting that effort:



You can also watch the video on our CAUSA YouTube Channel

For more on how you can get involved, visit www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org

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